iBRIC-inStem

Addressed the 'India Meteorological Department #IMD event: "India has significantly expanded its Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network since 2014, increasing from 14 operational units to 50, marking more than 250% rise. These additions, covering over 87% of the country, improve forecasting for cyclones, heavy rain, and thunderstorms under the India Meteorological Department (IMD), with 50 more DWRs planned under Mission Mausam. Introduction of options like 'Nowcast' service provide highly localised and accurate forecasts for the next three hours. India’s weather forecasting has thus become a way of life for an average Indian citizen. Many now routinely check weather updates on their mobile phone for any possibility of rain, before stepping out of home. IMD forecasts have achieved precision upto raindrop size level. India’s forecasting capabilities are also benefiting neighbouring countries, reflecting the country’s commitment to global cooperation, in the true spirit of "Vishwabandhu" Bharat".

We know it’s tough out there. IMD is tracking the heatwave 24/7, stay hydrated, stay safe. 📍Selfie Point, depicting a Weather Radar, set up at Lodhi Road, just outside the entrance gate of “Indian Meteorological Department” #IMD Headquarters, New Delhi.

#Bengaluru Walkthrough the different sections at the “Indian Institute of Astrophysics” #IIA. World class Space instrumentation, telescope imaging and data analysis facility, particularly useful in Space and Defence sector. Also inaugurated a medium-size Aspheric Grinder & Polisher.

“Drishti” is the world’s first OptoSAR satellite. Developed by the Indian startup, this 190-kg satellite combines optical sensors (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to deliver high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging. It enables comprehensive data for defence, agriculture, and infrastructure.

#IMD: "This is to reassure the common public that there is no cause for panic over Weather Forecasts regarding the heat conditions predicted or expected during the month of May, and any unwarranted reaction can be avoided by understanding the forecast correctly and by following simple day-to-day precautions.  While certain regions may witness above-normal temperatures and heat wave conditions, these are not uniform across the country and can be effectively managed through timely preparedness and adherence to advisories issued, from time to time, by the "India Meteorological Department" (IMD). As per the latest monthly outlook and extended-range forecast issued by the IMD, above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over southern peninsular India, parts of the northeast and northwest India, while a large part of the country is expected to experience normal to below-normal temperatures during the month. Minimum temperatures in several regions are also likely to remain above normal. Authorities are fully prepared to deal with heat-related conditions and coordinated efforts are being undertaken at the State and district levels to ensure availability of drinking water, functional cooling arrangements and uninterrupted power supply. Special attention is being given to vulnerable groups including infants, the elderly and outdoor workers. With regard to agriculture, prevailing conditions remain generally favourable for harvesting of late Rabi crops in northern and northwestern regions. However, farmers have been advised to carry out field operations during morning and evening hours, ensure light and frequent irrigation, and take protective measures for livestock. Please note that updated weather information is available on IMD’s official website (mausam.imd.gov.in), mobile applications including Mausam App, Mausamgram portal, and through various media platforms". #MoES

Join the @EMBO Workshop on "Molecular Mechanisms of Developmental & Regenerative Biology" taking place 25–27 November 2026 at BRIC-inStem, Bangalore, India. Explore breakthroughs in embryonic development, pluripotency, organoids, tissue stem cells, germline specification, regeneration, single-cell multi-omics, lineage tracing, and chromatin dynamics with leading global researchers. Apply now: meetings.embo.org/event/26-dev-r… #EMBO #DevelopmentalBiology #RegenerativeBiology #StemCells #Organoids #Chromatin #Bangalore

#PhD applications for the August 2026 intake at BRIC inStem are now open. We work on organoids, neurobiology, metabolic control, human embryology and more, with a strong focus on translational research. Last date to apply: 27th April 2026 Apply: instem.res.in/news/bric-inst…

Prof @pkvemula was awarded the @SunPharma_Live Science Foundation Research Fellowship 2025 in #PharmaceuticalSciences at an award ceremony conducted on 27 March 2026, New Delhi. This award recognises his contributions in #TranslationalResearch by developing chemical technologies for medical applications, particularly for developing potential drug molecules to treat gut barrier dysfunction-associated diseases. Read more about his research: instem.res.in/people/praveen… @BricDbt @DBTIndia

First evidence linking a potassium channel defect to heart failure, obesity, and sleep disorders. A recent study from @Dhan_inStem laboratory in @EMBOMolMed revealed a novel syndrome termed ‘DOSA’ (DCM, Obesity and Sleep Apnea) emanating from a single gene (KCNA2) using “lab-grown" 3D organoids from patient stem cells and preclinical models (transgenic Drosophila). They also show statins as a potential drug for such a condition. Take a look: link.springer.com/article/10.103… @BricDbt @DBTIndia

“From dependency to self-reliance, the journey of ‘Rare Earth’ has already begun. Strategic investments, new processing capacities and allowing the participation of private players are setting the foundation for long-term Energy security.” #LokSabha

National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust #NMET Governing Body meeting: Reviewed critical mineral exploration, pace of work, StartUp participation, and status of domestic supply chains. "India to scale up critical mineral exploration and build strong domestic value chains to reduce import dependence and meet strategic needs. Involve local MPs and MLAs in exploration areas to improve ground-level coordination. Role of scientific institutions like CSIR–IMMT and Department of Atomic Energy is crucial, and can be enhanced in mineral sector advancement".

@DBTIndia Government of India, announced the dates for the next GAT-B and BET examinations. Graduate Aptitude Test-Biotechnology (GAT-B), is an all India Entrance Examination to test the eligibility of bonafide Indian nationals for admissions to DBT supported Post Graduate programmes in Biotechnology and allied areas, at participating institutions/universities. Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2026 is conductd for the award of ‘DBT-Junior Research Fellowship’ (DBT-JRF) to pursue research in frontier areas of Biotechnology across the country. Based on the performance in BET 2026, candidates will be shortlisted under Category-I and Category-II of DBT JRF Programme The BET-qualified candidates are eligible to apply to PhD program Visit rcb.res.in/files/2026-03/… and dbt.gov.in/offerings/what… for more details Last date of application: 9th April 2026 The MSc admission portal will be open after the declaration of GAT-B results. @DrJitendraSingh @rajesh_gokhale @IndiaDST @BricDbt

Laid the foundation stone of India’s first dedicated BioFoundry Centre at “National Agri-food & Biomanufacturing Institute #NABI, #Chandigarh, under Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, with an outlay of ₹42 crore over two years. In an age when the world is exploring options of food security through “smart foods”, this facility will enable scaling of advanced agri-food biomanufacturing, including processed proteins, bio-inputs and bio-based products, bridging lab research with industry and thus also strengthening India’s bioeconomy.

India’s bioeconomy has grown from around $10 billion in 2014 to over $195 billion in 2025, reflecting significant progress. He noted that biotechnology is playing a key role in healthcare, agriculture, climate solutions, and sustainable manufacturing, with India aiming for a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030. The #BioE3 policy and a ₹1 lakh crore fund to boost research, innovation, and biotech startups. #BIRAC

#Chennai: "Deeply deeply humbled by the 'Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine & Diabetes' conferred at the National Meet 'MVCON 2026', organised by M.V. Diabetes Chennai founded in 1954 by Late Prof M. Viswanathan, popularly remembered as one of the founding fathers of Diabetology in India, along with his equally illustrious contemporaries of the time.  Although, this is the second Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine bestowed on me in less than two years, the last one also during an international meet at Chennai  in July 2024, I honestly believe that I quite fall short of the award citation which lauds , according to it, "outstanding contribution as a distinguished medical professional, teacher, author, researcher particularly known for his work on 'Stress Diabetes in  displaced Kashmiri Pandit community' and 'Diabetes in  Pregnancy',  and also an advocate for advancing Diabetes care and public health". Frankly, I owe much of this to the mentorship and kindness of nationally acclaimed stalwarts  like Prof V. Seshiah, Prof Sam GP Moses, Prof MMS Ahuja and Prof N.S. Pathania, as also my teachers at Stanley Medical College, who were all very  generously indulgent with me and did the hand-holding to pull up this unknown boy hailing from a peripheral region, and enabled me to gradually inch towards the centre stage of medical academics in India. I cannot repay them for all that I received from them in abundance, but have in a modest way tried to be the same to the students who came under my charge during my several decades as a teacher of Medicine. Today, when I see some of these boys and girls, who had done their MD or their thesis under me, heading their respective departments in leading medical institutions of Delhi, Chennai and other places, and fondly remembering the time they spent with me, I feel the strange satisfaction of having done some thanksgiving to my own teachers ...though not wholly but in a very small fraction. My ultimate gratitude to my patients whose trust kept me going. It is touching when some of them meet me with a lamination- preserved prescription written by me years ago".

Interaction with leading hospital procurement heads, healthcare administrators and industry representatives at 'The Week India Hospital Procurement Leaders Summit', discussing the future of efficient, quality-driven healthcare systems to ensure better preventive startegies as well as better patient outcomes .

My address at the meet on “Disseminating Learnings and Outcomes of GARBH-INi (Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes)”, a Department of Biotechnology initiative, aimed at developing indigenous, AI-driven solutions to address preterm births, one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality as well morbidity in adulthood. Takeaways: "Children born today will be at the prime of their youth in 2047, and hence the nation has a huge stake in them in the building of "Viksit Bharat" envisaged by PM @narendramodi. To ensure their well-being is therefore not for the cause of healthcare alone, but part of a larger responsibility of nation building. India carries a significant share of the global burden of preterm births, making it essential to develop solutions suited to Indian conditions. GARBH-INi (Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes)”, a Department of Biotechnology (DBT) initiative, is India’s largest pregnancy cohort study of 12,000 women to power AI-driven solutions for preterm births. The outcomes of this study are expected to strengthen India’s fight against preterm births through AI and indigenous tools for early prediction of preterm births".

Multiple MoUs and collaborations exchanged with key partners, bridging research, industry and technology to strengthen India’s healthcare innovation ecosystem. Partnerships with DOTO Health Pvt. Ltd., Qure.ai Technologies, CareMother, and Sundyota Numandis Pvt Ltd. reflect a focused push towards AI-enabled maternal care and indigenous microbiome solutions. From the Garbhini–AnandiMaa platform to advanced ultrasound AI and next-generation probiotic innovations, these initiatives are translating scientific evidence into impactful healthcare interventions, supporting India’s maternal and child health goals.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, but it is preventable through timely vaccination. On National Vaccination Day (16 March), we highlight the importance of measles immunization in protecting children and communities from preventable outbreaks. Strengthening vaccination coverage is key to building a healthier and disease-free future. Vaccinate on time. Protect every child. #MeaslesImmunization #NationalVaccinationDay #VaccinesSaveLives #ImmunizationForAll @DrJitendraSingh @rajesh_gokhale @BricDbt @NABI_India @NIPGRsocial @NImmunology @HydNiab @BRIC_CDFD @DBT_NCCS_Pune @ICGEB @DBT_inStem @DBT_NBRC @RGCB_Trivandrum @THSTIFaridabad @ICGEBNewDelhi @unescorcb @BIRAC_2012 @MoHFW_INDIA @MinistryWCD @aiims_newdelhi @IndiaDST @moesgoi @ICMRDELHI @PrinSciAdvOff